Friends and family of 61-year-old Warminster businessman Charlie Maxwell have spoken of their shock at his murder in the Philippines.

One of his closest friends, Tim Dews, 41, had been texting Mr Maxwell just two hours before his death and only found out about the incident from Mr Maxwell’s ex-wife, Jane.

Mr Dews, of Hill Deverill, near Warminster, said: “I was in my workshop and saw this car park up. I didn’t recognise who it was at first, but Jane got out dressed in black and I could tell it wasn’t going to be good news.

“Jane said, ‘It’s Charlie. He has been shot dead in the Philippines’. I just stood there in stunned silence. I felt numb.”

Mr Dews had been texting Mr Maxwell about life in the Philippines at about 5.40pm GMT on the night he was killed.

“He had just come back from the beach – he was having a good time over there,” he said.

“Charlie was a lovely guy. He was always entertaining to talk to and I never saw him in a bad mood.”

Friends and family described Mr Maxwell, who up until last year lived in the village of Longbridge Deverill, as a popular character with a lust for life, who would ‘do anything for anyone.’

Mr Maxwell, dubbed ‘the silver fox’ by his friends because of his hair colour, was a man who dedicated his life to having fun, with a lifestyle that included parties, scuba diving, skiing and copious amounts of red wine or rum.

His brother Patrick Maxwell, who lives in Australia with his wife Maureen and son Andrew, said: “Charlie was my only brother. We kept in touch and he visited frequently even after we moved to Perth, Australia, often surprising us by turning up on the doorstep unannounced.

“He was a very successful businessman and was never short of money, I often referred to him as Arthur Daley.

“He was a bit of a loner but seemed to have a large circle of friends and he loved travelling, visiting many unusual and exotic locations. He also enjoyed a good drink. We will miss him terribly.”

Laurie Creighton, landlord of The George Inn, in Longbridge Deverill, has known Mr Maxwell for more than a decade.

He found out about Mr Maxwell’s death when he went into the pub on Wednesday to see a poster on the wall. It had been put up by Jane to tell people of the news.

Mr Creighton said: “I was shocked when I saw the poster. I nearly fell over. I’ve never known anyone who has been murdered before.

“I only saw him two weeks ago and he was ever so happy because he had started a new life, and to have that taken away so abruptly is just awful.”

Sue Gray, of Leigh Park, Westbury, has known Mr Maxwell for 12 years.

She said: “My daughter started working for Charlie when she was 14 years old framing his pictures for him and I got to know him through that.

“He was a fantastic – a really nice guy. There is nothing he wouldn’t do for you. He has been a really good friend to me.”

Mr Maxwell was involved in the annual Wylye Valley Arts Trail and would open up his home as part of the exhibition, displaying his and other artists’ work.

Nick Andrew, co-ordinator of the arts trail, said: “I always thought he was very professional and quite a private person. He was a really good craftsmen and worked very hard. He was quite quiet but had a very dry sense of humour.”